Photos emerge of malnourished lions on breeding farm

Over the past week, horrific photos have emerged over social media of malnourished lions on a breeding farm in Alldays in Limpopo Province. These lions belong to Mr Jans Walter Slippers, who runs three operations in Alldays – a breeding farm and a hunting farm that fall under the operation, Ingogo Safaris, and a coffee shop called Toeka Plaas Kombuis, where the cubs go to be petted during the day before returning to the farm.

Since the photos emerged, the NSPCA and LEDET have been alerted, and the NSPCA have visited the farms and confirmed that there are serious welfare issues for the animals.

Dr Andrew Venter, CEO of Wildlands emphasises that: “It is tragic to see lion breeders who have exploited lions for many years, simply abandoning their animals because they are no longer valuable. It clearly demonstrates that these breeders have no ethical conservation intent.”

Mr. Jan Walters Slippers, who is responsible for the negligent treatment of these lions, has been implicated in other dodgy dealings in the past. On 7 March 2012 he launched an urgent application against the Limpopo MEC: Economic Development, Environment and Tourism and the Minister of Water and Environmental Affairs because the department advised provinces not to issue hunting permits to Vietnamese citizens due to various concerns regarding illegal hunting practices.

Slippers had applied for hunting permits for five Vietnamese citizens who had not been issued permits. However, after his application was heard, the court ordered the MEC to issue the permits, so long as departmental officials could interview the Vietnamese hunters to verify their personal backgrounds.

The two departments made the necessary arrangements for the hunters to attend the interviews, but were informed on the day of these interviews that the hunters were not yet in the country. It was thereafter ascertained by the departments that there were certain legitimate concerns.

UPDATE: Traveller24 contacted Walter Slippers and he “denied the lions are currently underweight, saying the images are old and must have been taken in March when he was still in rehab after a heart attack. However, Isabel Wentzel, Manager for Wildlife Protection Unit for the NSPCA, confirmed that inspections were carried out at all of Slippers’ properties on Monday, 4 July and that underweight lions were found at the breeding farm.”

When is all this s**t going to stop…?!? Trophy hunting must be banned!

ResponsibleBreeder

Obviously you don’t “get it” the REASON these lions are not being adequately fed is because local government has not issued hunting permits… this drops the value of the lions so their owner (who is a complete jerk for doing so) has opted to save money by not spending as much on lion food.
Actions have consequences – if you think by banning “Trophy” hunting you will save these captive bred lions you are VERY wrong. They will simply be killed when they become too expensive to feed.
(And no, I neither hunt nor breed lions).

Carmen Berdan

Walter Slippers feeds the lions better only during the hunting season. We’ve been told this by volunteers two years ago and we reported the situation to NSPCA in April 2014

Jac7

In a case like this, where there is clear and prominent proof that there is negligence, can’t any form or body of (functional) government interfere or intervene for the sake of the animals? Or does bureaucracy and simple politics come before the wellbeing of any living creature. My goodness, we must act.

paula

Can these animals not be ceased for cruelty reasons? Do they not have such laws in Africa as they do in other countries for neglect and cruelty. Disgusting condition of such a majestic animal

Carmen Berdan

NSPCA promised to investigate the lion situation at the Limpopo Predator Park in 2014 , but obviously did nothing.

Denine Mishoe

Can you please give me a name and/or contact information and I will call or write. I just can’t believe this can be legal, even in a country like Africa. Thank You.

Carmen Berdan

The lions were as skinny two years ago, this has nothing to do with his heart attack. He is starving the lions every year between hunting seasons.

Denine Mishoe

PLEASE SOMEONE, PLEASE HELP THESE LIONS!! DEAR GOD! Is it not bad enough that they are bred just for the purpose of being hunted and killed, must they also suffer while alive?! Even in Africa, surely this just can NOT be legal?! PLEASE! Who can we contact? If there are multiple peoples, I’ll call or write to every single one of them, please just post here the names or businesses, the website, phone number, mailing address, anything – I will contact all of them! PLEASE HELP!!

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